Child care is crucial for working parents, but Elkhart County lacks space, statistics show

The Truth - 3/20/2017

March 19--ELKHART -- One of the largest detriments to families in Elkhart County is the lack of affordable, quality day care for children.

Statistics from the Indiana Youth Institute show that over the past four years very little has changed in the availability of affordable child care centers in the county.

In 2016, there were only 13 licensed child care facilities in the county, an increase from 12 in 2015 and up from 10 in 2013. The number of licensed home-based child care facilities decreased to 34 in 2016, down from 36 in 2015 and 38 in 2013.

The number of registered child care ministries has remained steady at 18 the past four years. Since 2013, the number of child care slots per 100 children ages birth through five has increased from 7.8 to 9.

Church Community Services Director Rod Roberson said child care in the community is not where it needs to be. For a parent looking to get a job, finding affordable, quality child care is vital.

"Someone can be on the right track, but it is a damaging blow if they can't find care for their children," he said. "This is an essential need for a family, because people can't take a job if they can't find someone to watch their kids."

Bill Reith, director of the United Way of Elkhart County, said he hopes state lawmakers pass a proposed pre-K pilot expansion that would provide more pre-K services statewide. The United Way and other partners have applied to offer programming as part of the pre-K pilot.

Daniel Browning, residential program director at Faith Mission, said someone with kids has a hard time even job hunting if they don't have care for their children. He said finding child care is one step, but making sure it is affordable is another.

"There is a wait list for state funded child care vouchers at the moment," said Browning. "So if it is not affordable, low-income or no-income individuals are left with really no options."

In 2016, statistics from the Indiana Youth Institute show that 1,142 individuals in the county were utilizing child care vouchers, while another 123 were on the wait list.

Another key factor to child care is the lack of outside support some families have, especially single-parent homes.

"For some of these people that do not have family support or any family to help them raise their kids, if burdens come along they are literally out of luck," said Roberson.

Browning said some families and individuals can tackle burdens and make things work, but others have more difficulties.

"Everyone has different situations they are coming from," he said. "If you are brand new to the area and have no supports here, when you have a problem what are you going to do?"

Follow Ben Quiggle on Twitter @BenQuiggle

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